Power transfer device

ABSTRACT

A POWER TRANSFER DEVICE FOR TRANSFERRING THE POWER OF A HAND TOOL TO WORK LOCATED IN AN OTHERWISE HARD TO REACH LOCATION, AND COMPRISING A NARROW ELONGATED HOUSING WITH A SPROCKET AT EACH END AND COUPLED BY A CHAIN DRIVE. THE ONE SPROCKET HAS AN AXIAL POLYGONAL OPENING FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH A HAND TOOL, WHILE THE OTHER SPROCKET IS PROVIDED WITH AN AXIAL EXTENSION OF POLYGONAL SECTION TO ACCOMMODATE A SOCKET.

Feb. 6, 1973 J. A. GIANGRASSO 3,714,

POWER TRANSFER DEVICE Filed June 5, 1971 o o here-Irina o o o INVENTOR.

JOSEPH A. GfANGRRSS A #arne/ United States Patent 3,714,852 POWER TRANSFER DEVICE Joseph A. Giangrasso. 11221 Elvessa St., Oakland, Calif. 94605 Filed June 3, 1971, Ser. No. 149,612 Int. Cl. B251? 17/00 U.S. Cl. 3157.3 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A power transfer device for transferring the power of a hand tool to work located in an otherwise hard to reach location, and comprising a narrow elongated housing with a sprocket at each end and coupled by a chain drive. The one sprocket has an axial polygonal opening for engagement with a hand tool, while the other sprocket is provided with an axial extension of polygonal section to accommodate a socket.

My invention relates to hand tools and more particularly to a power transfer device for use with such tools.

Frequently in the use of hand tools such as ratchet wrenches, torque wrenches, and the like, one finds the work to be operated on, whether it be a nut, bolt or the like, is situated in such hard to reach location, that the tool cannot be functionally applied. Under the circumstances, the job either cannot be accomplished or some difficult and unorthodox approach must be attempted.

Among the objects of my invention are (1) To provide a novel and improved means enabling use of a conventional type hand tool to operate on work, which otherwise would be functionally incapable of being handled by such tool;

(2) To provide a novel and improved transfer device for use with a hand tool to enable such tool to functionally operate on work which would otherwise be difficult or impossible to handle;

(3) To provide a novel and improved power transfer device for the above purpose which can be economically produced.

Additional objects of my invention will be brought out in the following description thereof in its preferred form, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein FIG. 1 is a side view in elevation, of a device embodying the present invention, with portions of the housing broken away to expose internal details of construction;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view, in section, taken in the plane 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view, in section, taken in the plane 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a three dimensional view depicting a manner of use of the invention to operate on work which may be located in a hard to reach position.

Referring to the drawings for details of my invention in its preferred form, the same comprises an elongated housing 1, preferably of two shallow matching half sections 3, 5, held together by rivets 7 and providing parallel side walls, 8, 9.

At one end is a drive sprocket 13 journalled in the side walls of the housing, the sprocket having an axial passageway 15 therethrough of square or other polygonal section.

At the opposite end of the housing, is a driven sprocket 17 also journalled in the side walls of the housing but differing from the drive sprocket in that, in lieu of an axial passageway, it has an axial extension \19 of square or other polygonal section.

Drive connecting the two sprockets is a drive chain 21,

3,714,852 Patented Feb. 6, 1973 whereby upon rotation ofthe drive sprocket 13, corresponding rotation of the driven sprocket 17 will ensue.

In use, a hand tool such as a ratchet wrench 25 having a socket mounting in the form of an extension 27 of polygonal section fittable into the axial passageway 15 of the drive sprocket, is installed at the drive end of the power transfer device.

A conventional socket 29 of a size to fit the work to be operated on, is installed on the driven sprocket 17.

Referring to FIG. 4, the work to be operated on is shown to be a bolt 31 having its head 33 exposed at the far end of a deep but relatively narrow recess 35 in a block 37, the bolt head being in a hard to reach location. This is representative of a situation where the present invention may be used to advantage.

With the socket 2 9 meshing with the bolt head 33 and the other end of the device held in the left hand or braced against a proximate portion of the block, the wrench may be ratcheted with the right hand to effect a loosening or tightening of the bolt, as the case may be.

To minimize sagging of the chain, and maintain a continuous friction load thereon, so as to inhibit free running of the chain drive at any time, one or more compression springs may be installed between the upper and lower sections of the chain and in pressure engagement therewith.

In the preferred form, each spring is a resilient split ring 39 encircling a rivet 7, whereby the rivet will function to restrain the spring from shifting appreciably from its installed position.

From the foregoing description of my invention in its preferred form, it will be appreciated that the same is subject to alterations and modifications without departing from the underlying principles involved, and I therefore, do not desire to be limited in my protection to the specific details illustrated and described except as may be necessitated by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A power transfer device to enable effective transfer of power from a hand tool to work located at an other wise hard to reach location, said device comprising an elongated housing, a drive element in said housing at one end thereof, said drive element including an axial polygonal opening to receive the power end of a hand tool, a driven element in said housing at the opposite end thereof, said driven element including an exposed axial extension of polygonal section for installation of a socket, with each of said drive and driven elements including a sprocket, means drive connecting said drive element to said driven element, said drive connecting means comprising a chain encircling said sprockets, and at least one compression spring between the upper and lower sections of said chain and in pressure relationship thereto, to apply a continuous friction load on said chain.

2. A power transfer device in accordance with claim 1 characterized by said housing including a pair of parallel side walls maintained in spaced relationship by a pair of spaced apart rivets located between the upper and lower sections of said chain, and a compression spring surrounding each of said rivets and in pressure relationship to said chain to apply a continuous friction load on said chain.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,138,983 6/1964 Frizzell 8l57.3 2,678,577 5/1954 Tackett 8l--57.3 2,466,456 4/1949 Lybyer 8'l57.3 X

JAMES L. JONES, IR., Primary Examiner 

